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Luxury Performance Sedans

10006 messages,  Last post on Nov 26, 2009 at 6:59 AM

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What is this discussion about? Lexus GS 430, Acura RL, BMW 5 Series, Volvo S80, Audi A6, Infiniti M35, Infiniti M45, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Cadillac STS, Sedan

#9006 of 10006 Re: MB Grows and grows and grows [laurasdada] by lexusguy Jan 04, 2007 (1:32 pm)
Replying to: laurasdada (Jan 04, 2007 10:27 am) Especially the BMW 3. Quality materials but a bit of a depressing presentation.   I only like the 3 series in tan leather with the natural wood finish. I'm not a fan of the black\black\black combo of many recent BMWs, its like a cave.
#9007 of 10006 Re: MB Grows and grows and grows [tayl0rd] by merc1 Jan 04, 2007 (9:20 pm)
Replying to: tayl0rd (Jan 04, 2007 6:25 am) I'd say the new G's interior is actually better than the M's.   It definitely is from a styling standpoint, I haven't been in the new G to see if the materials are. They got rid of the big ATM buttons for one thing.   M Replies to this message: ocim (Jan 13, 2007 7:20 am)
#9008 of 10006 Re: MB Grows and grows and grows [laurasdada] by markcincinnati Jan 05, 2007 (5:21 am)
Replying to: laurasdada (Jan 04, 2007 10:27 am) I may be wrong, but I think the praise for the G interior is for the new, refreshed for '07 iteration.   I would agree, the '05 G wasn't exactly in the near LPS league. And, were it not for the torque steer (my wife and I had tested a fully optioned manual transmission version of the Acura -- on a rainy day) well the Acura probably would have been a contender, even without AWD.   The thing had torque steer second only to an old Saab Aero we tested -- the steering wheel simply made "suggestions" to the front end. Sometimes it took the suggestion, on a rain slicked road, not so much. Replies to this message: lexusguy (Jan 05, 2007 9:12 am) laurasdada (Jan 05, 2007 10:31 am)
#9009 of 10006 A5 by markcincinnati Jan 05, 2007 (5:26 am)
Here's the A5 link: Klik Here for A5 Spy Replies to this message: dhamilton (Jan 05, 2007 7:24 am)
#9010 of 10006 Re: MB Grows and grows and grows [merc1] by domenickamarc Jan 05, 2007 (6:46 am)
Replying to: merc1 (Jan 03, 2007 9:12 pm) "That Audi number is somewhat of a letdown, such a car should sell much better than that."   Comparos, such as that in Car and Driver this month, might, gradually shift place of A6 in minds of LPS buyers. MB E63 AMG and Audi S6 rated well ahead of M5. S6 summed up as "a fast and sexy sweetheart priced to near irresistibility." Main negative: underpowered. Mark, can you put some pressure on Audi to get us further up the ladder in the HP/torque race? Replies to this message: merc1 (Jan 05, 2007 7:36 am) markcincinnati (Jan 05, 2007 1:23 pm)
#9011 of 10006 Re: A5 [markcincinnati] by dhamilton Jan 05, 2007 (7:24 am)
Replying to: markcincinnati (Jan 05, 2007 5:26 am) thanks Mark.   Also, I started a thread on future Audi platforms if interested.
#9012 of 10006 Re: MB Grows and grows and grows [domenickamarc] by merc1 Jan 05, 2007 (7:36 am)
Replying to: domenickamarc (Jan 05, 2007 6:46 am) True, but magazine comparos only carry so much weight. There are probably hundreds of thousands of car buyers that don't have a clue about C&D comparos or any other magazines for that matter. Audi's biggest problem is their image and marketing, because the cars are excellent by most measurements. Audi just needs more exposure, to get on more luxury car buyers shopping lists. We can debate the how all day long, but that is what they need.   M
#9013 of 10006 Re: MB Grows and grows and grows [markcincinnati] by lexusguy Jan 05, 2007 (9:12 am)
Replying to: markcincinnati (Jan 05, 2007 5:21 am) The thing had torque steer second only to an old Saab Aero we tested -- the steering wheel simply made "suggestions" to the front end. Sometimes it took the suggestion, on a rain slicked road, not so much.   The idea of the Type-S 6MT is just that much scarier. Somebody should do a comparison between that and the 9-3 Viggen to see who wins the award for worst torque steer ever. The TL's other big problem is its turning circle, 40ft in standard guise. I'm sure the Type-S is much worse. My wife's RX300 was about the same, that's the one thing she always hated about the car. Replies to this message: laurasdada (Jan 05, 2007 10:31 am)
#9014 of 10006 Re: MB Grows and grows and grows [lexusguy] by laurasdada Jan 05, 2007 (10:31 am)
Replying to: lexusguy (Jan 05, 2007 9:12 am) I agree that the TLs turning radius is a (minor) annoyance, it is large! As is torque steer, which by all reports is much, much less noticeable in the slushbox TL vs. the stick. I believe that every review mentions that fact. But, as a FWD driver all my life, it doesn't really bother me. I am just aware of it, so if it's time to light 'em up, well, I hold on! I've driven/owned Saabs, all naturally aspirated 4s, so torque steer really was never an issue there...!   Yes, the new G interior appears to be a big step up in my limited experience with it. But I still think the TL interior can play in the same ballpark as any of its peers. Except, of course, for the CTS. That is just in a league of its own, interior style/material-wise!   My next car, maybe it's time to let go and go RWD: BMW 3 Convertible or rumored Lexus IS Convertible???
#9015 of 10006 Re: MB Grows and grows and grows [domenickamarc] by markcincinnati Jan 05, 2007 (1:23 pm)
Replying to: domenickamarc (Jan 05, 2007 6:46 am) Until very recently, Audi, tit for tat, was bringing cars to market with BMW numbers under the hood, at least.   The BMW 530 was making do with 225HP while the A6 was offering 255HP -- this disparity went beyond 7 months as I recall.   The Lexus GS was really low and late to the HP race and despite a 300HP (rated) V6, the Acura RL couldn't get no respect in the grunt dept either.   Audi, across the line, has played in the same HP league as its rivals most of the time. Indeed, for a long time an Audi 4.2L A6 was the same price as a i6 Bimmer 5 series.   And, the Audi S6 in the comparo's is HOW many thousands OVER $10,000 less than the BMW and Merc?   Audi still came in first and second in two auto mags comparos both times bettering in the rankings the BMW.   Audi seems to be waiting to offer us an RS6 again, but one can only speculate that when it does it will offer wrath of god kind of HP and torque, once again upping the ante.   Why wait?   I dunno.   The RS4 seems to be well respected and reviewed yet, to me, it is hard to justify its price.   The S6, by comparison, seems like a bargain.   My current burning concern is there is no counter-punch to the "35" BMW engine.   The V10 S6 is the new winna and champeen from my point of view especially at its price point.

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